Former Stars defender John Painstil has announced his retirement from the international game, after a two year break from earning a call-up that doesn’t look like ending anytime soon.
The former under-21 international announced with a post on Instagram that he is finally relinquishing turning up for the Stars.
“John Paintsil will like to announce his retirement from been a soccer player on international stage,” he wrote on the photo sharing site.
“I thank God for bringing me this far. It was a long journey from 1999 to 2016. Two Fifa World Cup tournaments and five Afcon and 89 caps for Ghana,”
Painstil was a staple of the squad that qualified Ghana to her first ever world cup in 2006 under Ratomir Dujkovic, and played a key role in the team’s run to the round of 16 stage at that tournament.
He played in Israel for parts of his career, as well as in the English Premier League for Fulham and West Ham. He joined South African side Maritzburg in the twilight of his career, before being let go for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The 35 year old is a product of the Liberty Professionals academy line that gifted Ghana its best ever generation of talent, including Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Derek Boateng and John Mensah – all of whom appeared for Ghana at the 2001 world youth championship in Argentina, where Ghana placed second.
He won 89 international caps for the Stars.